Yarn guide and folder



J. 112, i937. o. s. cARLlss 20679827 y YARN GUIDE AND FOLDER y Filed Sept. 18, 1935 l N VEN TOR. Os Waf//J/Z/a/z fof/'125s A TTORN E YS.

Patented Jan. I12, 1937 YARN GUIDE AND FOLDER.

Oswald Sheldon Carliss, Providence, R. I., as-

signor to H & B American Machine Company, a corporation ollMaine Application September 18,1935, Serial No. 41,122

12 Claims.

This invention relates to long drafting textile apparatus, and has for one of its objects to provide a device therefor adapted for controlling the fibers of the sliver or roving between each successive drafting operation as the strand of fiber passes without interruption of its travel, in a single continuous process, from one set of drafting elements to the next succeeding set4 of draft rolls of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple device capable of holding and carrying the sliver or roving without sagging or tearing apart in its travel, which is easily and economically manufactured and which embodies in its construction simple and efficient means to bring about a proper arrangement and distribution of the bers relative to the central axis of theY sliver.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple device to act on the outwardly projecting or loose outer fibers of the sliver or roving in a positive manner to guide and turn them inwardly towards the middle or main body portion of the strand and to arrange them without compression in substantially parallel form lengthwise thereof to prevent the fibers at the outer edges of the sliver from fraying and thus avoid loss of these fibers as lint or waste.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for holding, guiding, turning and folding the outer fibers at the edges of the strand longitudinally over itself in a series of simultaneous operations within the single unit to form the sliver to al shape which will hold the bers of the strand together without tearing apart or spreading as it travels from one draft stage to the next succeeding one, yet without imparting a compression to the strand or by placing therein what is commonlytermed in the art as a false twist.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple unitary device for folding the outer edges of the strand of sliver or roving inwardly towards its middle or central portion by means thereon which are relatively non-movable and non-rotatable.

With these and other objects in view as willbe apparent from the following disclosure, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawing, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Eig. l is a vertical sectional side elevation of a roving frame showing the device of the present invention applied thereto and illustrating its relation to the draft rolls; y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the frame shown in Figure 1, illustrating the operation of the folder device on the strand 5 of sliver;

Fig. 3 is a rear view in perspective of a sliver folder device which is the subject of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a frontwise view in perspective of the folder device shown in Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of the main body portion of the folder device shown in Figure 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in perspective of the rear element of the folder device shown in Figure 3, for completing the fold in the sliver;

Fig. 7 is a detail view in perspective of the scroll finger or horn of the folder device shown in Figure 3 for initially upturning the sliver to start the fold therein; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view o the folded sliver taken along the line 8 8 of i Figure, 2.

In the usual production of yarn of cotton or other fiber by many of the well known drafting systems in which the sliver or roving is acted upon successively by a series of drafting rolls to bring the strand to the desired size but with- I out interruption in itsl travel, the chief problem involvedI is how to attain a uniform control of the fibers, particularly those which project outwardly from the yarn and to prevent any localized ying apart of the fibers to the extent that they cannot be properly twisted together yet at the same time permitting suicient freedom to effect a proper distribution of the fibers in the yarn at theend ofthe drafting operation. Hence, the optimum condition'is' one in which there be distributed a major proportion of the longer fibers at the axis of the yarn, with the shorter fibers towards the outside portions and uniformly distributed longitudinally thereof. Of thevarious methods heretoforev practiced, one has involved the use of a pair v,of power driven rolls engaging the strandvof fibers for 'folding and condensing the strand between each succes sive drafting operation as it passes in a continuous process through the-machine. One of these rolls is provided with a peripheral groove, while 50 the other has a complementary yperipheral rib or tongue which interfits within the groove in the other roll; the rolls being positively driven' in such a manner ythat the contacting surfaces thereof travel with and move in the same direc- 55 tion and speed as the strand of fibers to fold and condense the strand as it issues from the drawing rolls.

Various other constructions have also been devised in the past in an attempt to overcome these difficulties, such as for example the use of traveling aprons, as are employed in several types of long draft spinning systems, in order to support and convey the yarn as it is drafted from one nip roll to the next, but they all have yet remained not entirely satisfactory as meeting the rather stringent requirements in this line, owing to such objections as lack of simplicity in design, expensiveness of manufacture and maintenance in operation, and the inconveniences and diiculties attendant to interference with the natural movement of the fibers arising from contion of ily and other waste. In accordancewith this invention a device is provided which is devoid of relatively movable members and is particularly adapted for supporting, guiding, turning and folding relative to the main sliver body the outer fibres of a strand of sliver or roving without compressing the same laterally or otherwise, in which the device is formed in three parts comprising a front finger or horn depending downwardly to engage and initially crease and turn the edges of the strand to start the fold in the sliver, a body member for supportingV the sliver and having a head portion shaped to turn up the outer fibers of the strand as it passes therethrough, and a rear member having a shaped portion cooperating with the body member and the horn to complete the fold; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of the invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawing, the invention is there illustrated in connection with a roving frame, in which the stationary part of the frame or roll stand is designated I0 having suitable bearing blocks in which the lower fluted rolls I I, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6 and I1, respectively, are mounted, while along the overarm 20 the upper rolls 2I, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 21 are mounted in suitable bearings and cooperate with the respective lower rolls in each of the pairs of rolls. The upper roll 28, which is shown as resting on the fluted bottom roll I 8, see Figure 1, is a smooth surfaced slip roll which is usually made of metal and has a selected weight, whereas the rest of .the upper rollsl are leather covered. The upper I rolls may be weighted in any suitable manner as is the usual practice well known in the art and which forms no particular feature of the present invention. The rolls I2, 22 are rotated faster than the rolls II, 2I to provide a draft of the work. Rolls I3, 23, however, rotate at the same speed as the previous set of rolls I2, 22, so that in this stretch or zone of travel of the work no draft occurs. Similarly, draft occurs between rolls I3, 23 and I4, 24, whereas no draft is incurred between the rolls I4, 24 and, I5, 25, the yarn being given the final draft between the rolls I5, 25; I6, 26 and I1, 21, respectively.

The sliver or roving folder guides 30 and 3I, which are the subject of this invention, are shown mounted on the bars 33 and 34, respectively, the bars being arranged for reciprocation axially with respect to the rolls by suitable mechanism (not shown).l The sliver 35 passes over the carrier roller 36 and is led through the draft rolls in succession, the preparatory draft being applied to it between the rear rolls II and 2I and the intermediate rolls I2 and 22, and then folded as it passes through the folder guide 30, followed by a second draft thereto by the intermediate rolls I3 and 23 and the next adjacent rolls I4 and 24, after which it is again folded during passage through the folder guide 3|, and it is then subjected to a longer draft between the intermediate rolls I5 and 25, I6 vand 26, and the front rolls I1 and 21. As the sliver emerges from the front pair of rolls I1 and 21 it is wound upon a bobbin in the usual manner well known in the art during which it receives the amount of twist desired to afford it the required strength.

As illustrated in the drawing, each of the sliver folder guide members 30 and 3|, respectively, consists of a thin elongated strip member, such as metal sheet stock or stamping, although other suitable non-metallic materials may be used, having a body portion 40 which forms a vertical standard and is provided with an opening 4I, adjacent to its lower end for securing the guide member to the reciprocable.

bars 33 and 34, respectively. The upper terminal end of the folder guide is provided with an indented guiding and turning portion which is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing as being bifurcated to provide the fingers 42 and 43 between which is formed a U-shaped notch 44 which is given a slight flare at the entrance and exit sides thereof to provide a smooth rounding surface for the entrance of the sliver and for confining it so that any of the projecting ends of the fibers will when the strand is folded, be lifted and partially turned up and back towards the middle of the strand as it passes therethrough. The ngers 42 and 43 are shown as being of unequal length, the longer nger 43 having formed integrally with its terminal end portion a pair of oppositely extending arms 45 and 46, respectively, the inner ends of which, at their point of juncture, project outwardly from the side faces of the guide member in a direction at substantially right angles thereto. The arm 45 is shown as being bent to form a frame or clamp member 41 having the vertical clamping portions 48, 49 and 50, respectively, for supporting a removable sliver guide member 5I adjustably mounted therein. The clamp 41 is spaced from the adjacent side face of the standard 40 with the clamping portion 49- being substantially parallel thereto.. The guide member 5I is provided with an inverted indented guiding and turning portion which, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing, comprises a U-shaped notch 52 formed through the wall at its bottom end, the entrance and exit side portions of which are slightly ared to provide a smooth rounding surface for movement of the sliver. This guide member 5I is adjustably secured and locked in the clamp41 by means of a screw 53 mounted in the clamping portion 48, and the guide member 5I is held in the clamp 41 with its lower end portion overhanging downwardly and extending along the upper end portion of the standard 40 but spaced therefrom, the opposed side faces of the guide member 5I and the upright standard 40 being substantially parallel and with the `U-shaped notches 52 and 44, respectively, being axially aligned with respect to each other, whereby th( notch 52 may serve to turn in the outside edges of the sliver into the center portion of the main sliver body and complete the folding process.

In order to direct the sliver to the notch 44 and preliminarily turn up the outer edges of the sliver and shape in advance of its entrance to the notch, a scroll-shaped horn or linger 55 is mounted' at the outer end o f the outwardly extending arm 46 and depends downwardly there- 'from with the tip of its outer end portion forming a curved nger disposed immediately in front of the entrance ofthe U-shaped notch 44 and axially aligned with respect thereto. The inner end of the horn 55 is adjustably mounted on the arm 46 by means of a bolt 56 and nut l passing through a suitable slot 58 formed in the arm 46 and disposedlongitudinally thereof, whereby the 'horn may be adjusted to the proper position relative to the notch 44, as may be desired.

In practice, it is essential that the sliver contacting portions of the notches 44 and 52, and the horn 55 be composed of a material capable of developing considerable smoothness, such as for example brass, steel or other suitable metal, porcelain, hard enamel or molded resinoid substances, which may be applied thereto as a coatentirely of the material selected.

g The operation of the device is obvious from the above disclosure. The sliver or roving as it emerges from the draft rolls passes under the horn 55 to thereby partially turn up the edge portions of the strand and direct it to the notch 44 of the support as it moved thereinto, the sides t2 and t3 of the notch serving to act on the sliver as it enters the notch to finish turning up the upturned edges to conform to the shape of the notch. Upon passing through the notch M the upturned edges of the sliver are then turned in and folded transversely of its body Without lateral compression thereof by contact with the sides of the notch 52 in the rear guide member 5i.

As shown in Figure 8 the folded sliver as it leaves the device is in an uncompressed condition with the bers adjacent to the outer edges being turned in and arranged uniformly about the sliver core.

In accordance with this construction, the open side d2 of the guide renders it easy to thread the sliver in the notch M. By making the device of a. stamping, the small surface of contact4 provided thereby eliminates drag and bunching of the sliver as 'it moves therethrough. Furthermore, the absence of moving parts enables all the fibers of the sliver to pass through' the device without any speed dierential being imposed thereon.

By this device, therefore, a very simple arrangement of long drafting may be accomplished in which the folder guide is of simple` claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for use in long draft textile machines for controlling and folding textile sliver,

roving and the like preparatory for drafting of the same comprising a support, means on said support to receive and longitudinally distribute the edges of the sliver in an uncompressed condition during its passage therethrough, and( creasing means in the line of travel of and adjacent to and cooperating with said sliver distributing means on-said support for directing the sliver thereto and initially forming a longitudinal fold in it directly in advance of its travel therethrough. I

,depending immediately in front of said sliver turning means on said support and cooperating therewith for directing the sliver thereto and initially forming the fold in it in advance of its travel therethrough.

3. A device for use in long draft textile machines for controlling and folding textile sliver, roving andthe like preparatory for drafting of the same comprising a support, means on said support for supporting and turning up the edges of the sliver in an uncompressed condition during its passage therethrough, creasing means Adepending in front of and adjacent to and cooperating with said sliver turning means .on said support for directing the sliver thereto and initially forming the fold in it directly in advance of its travel therethrough, and means disposed adjacent to the exit portion of said sliver turning means on said support for guiding and turning in the edges of the sliver transversely thereof and completing the fold therein.

4. A device for use in long draft textile machines for controlling and folding textile sliver, roving and the like preparatory for drafting of rthe same comprising a support, nonrotatable means on said support for supporting and turning up the edges of the sliver and longitudinally distributing them in an uncompressed condition during its passage therethrough, non-rotatable creasing means depending adjacent to and cooperating with said sliver turning means on said support for directing the sliver thereto and/yinitially forming the foldvin it directly in advance of its travel therethrough.

5. A device for use in long draft textile machines for controlling and folding textile sliver,

roving and the like preparatory for drafting of the same comprising -a fixed support, creasing means associated with said support for preliminarily forming a longitudinal fold in the sliver, means on said support for supporting and turning up the edges of the sliver and longitudinally distributing them in an uncompressed condition during its passage therethrough, and means spaced from said support and depending therefrom' adjacent to the exit portion of said sliver turning means thereon for guiding and turning in the edges of the sliver transversely thereof and completing the fold therein.v

6. A device for use in long draft textile machines for controling and folding textile sliver, roving and the like preparatory for drafting of the same comprising a fixed support, means associated with said support for preliminarily starting the fold in the sliver, means on said support for supporting and turning up the fibers of the sliver which are in close proximity to the outer edges thereof yet without compressing the same, and means adjacent to the exit portion of said sliver turning means for receiving and folding the upturned fibers inwardly adjacent to the central body of the sliver and arranging them longitudinally therewith. 1

7. A device for use in long draft textile machines for guiding and longitudinally folding sliver, roving and the like preparatory for drafting comprising a support, means on said support for guiding and turning up the edges of the sliver, adjustable means depending downwardly from a point immediately in front of the entrance of the guiding and turning means in said support and extending lengthwise of the sliver whereby the fold in the sliver is preliminarily `formed directly in front thereof, and means de pending downwardly from a point adjacent to, the rear portion of said fiber-turning means in said support and in axial alignment therewith whereby the edge portions of the fold in the sliver are turned inwardly across and towards the center body of the main sliver portion yet without it being compressed to a materially greater density than it had prior to folding.

8. A device for use in long draft textile machines for guiding and longitudinally folding sliver, roving and the like preparatory for drafting comprising a support, means on said support for guiding and turning up the edges of the sliver, adjustable means depending downwardly from a point immediately in front of the entrance of the guiding and turning means in said support whereby the fold in the sliver is initially formed directly in front thereof, and adjustable means depending downwardlyfrom a point adjacent to the rear portion of said fiber-turning ymeans in said support and spaced therefrom whereby the fold in the sliver is turned inwardly across and toward the center body of the mafn sliver portion yet without it being compressed to a materially greater density than it had prior to folding.

9. A device for use in long draft textile machines for guiding and folding sliver, roving and the like preparatory for drafting comprising a support, means including a notch on said support for guiding and controlling the fibers, a horn depending downwardly from a, point immediately in front of the entrance of the guiding means in said support whereby the fold in the sliver is formed directly in front thereof, and means including a notch adjacent to the rear portion of said fiber-controlling means in said support and 'spaced therefrom to receive the sliver whereby the fold in the sliver is turned inwardly toward the center of the main sliver portion yet without it being compressed to a materially greater density than it had prior to folding.

10. A device for use in long draft textile machines for guiding and folding sliver, roving and the like preparatory for drafting comprising a vertical standard provided with a U-shaped opening through the Wall at its top end, a pair of transverse arms of unequal lengths extending outwardly in opposite directions from the side faces of said standard and joined at their inner ends to an upright arm portion of the U-shaped opening, the outer end of the shorter arm being bent at right angles thereto and parallel with the adjacent side face of the standard and spaced therefrom forming a clamp having a vertical clamping portion, a movable member vertically adjustable upon said vertical clamping portion and provided with an inverted U-shaped opening in its lower end, said movable member extending along a portion of the adjacent surface of the standard but spaced therefrom, adjustable means for removably securing the vertically movable member in the clamp, and a scroll-shaped horn adjustably mounted at the outer end of the longer projecting arm, said horn having a depending end portion forming a finger disposed in advance of but immediately in front of the U-shaped sliver-receiving opening at the top of the standard and in axial alignment therewith for folding the sliver and retaining it in that form during its passage through the device.

11. A device adapted for use in long draft textile machines for guiding and longitudinally folding textile sliver, roving and the like preparatory for drafting of the same comprising a support having an indented guiding and turning surface for turning up the edges of the sliver and disposed adjacent to the upper end of the support, means projecting downwardly in the line of travel of said sliver to initially crease the same prior to its reception by said indented sliver turning means in said support, and means including an inverted indented guiding and turning surface for turning in the upturned -edges of the sliver laterally in a direction across the sliver to complete the fold,

l2. A device adapted for use in long draft textile machines for guiding and longitudinally folding textile sliver, roving and the like preparatory for drafting of the same comprising a support having an indented guiding and turning surface for turning up the edges of the sliver and disposed adjacent to theupper end of the support, means on said support projecting downwardly therefrom in the line of travel of said sliver to initially crease the same prior to its reception by said indented sliver turning means in said support, and adjustable means including an inverted indented guiding and turning surface for turning in the upturned edges of the sliver laterally in a direction across the sliver to complete the fold.

OSVVALD SHELDON CARLISS. 

